Active Cable Modulating Differential Signals via PAM
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cables used in data centers with active connectors require a large number of paired metal cores for differential signal transmission, leading to thick and inflexible cables as the number of channels increases, which complicates assembly and increases transmission loss.
Innovation Solution
A cable with connectors that include a circuit unit with a transmitter and receiver, using pulse-amplitude-modulation (PAM) to modulate and demodulate signals, reducing the number of metal cores needed by multiplexing signals, thereby maintaining flexibility and reducing assembly complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a large number of paired metal cores are used for differential signal transmission to increase channels, then data transmission capacity is improved, but cable thickness and inflexibility increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple signal channels into a single metal core by using pulse-amplitude modulation (PAM) to multiplex multiple data streams. This merging approach allows high-capacity data transmission through fewer cores, directly resolving the contradiction between transmission capacity and cable flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the signal transmission parameter from traditional differential signaling to PAM modulation, enabling multiple channels to be transmitted through a single core. This parameter change allows maintaining high productivity while improving ease of operation by reducing cable thickness
2Productivity
If a large number of paired metal cores are used for differential signal transmission, then data transmission capacity is improved, but assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple channels into a single metal core using PAM technology, which significantly reduces the number of connectors and metal cores that need to be assembled. This directly reduces assembly complexity while maintaining high data transmission capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the signal processing function into the active connector, which handles modulation and demodulation. This segmentation allows the physical cable structure to be simpler while the active connector manages the complexity of multiple channels, reducing overall assembly complexity
3Productivity
If a large number of paired metal cores are used for differential signal transmission, then data transmission capacity is improved, but transmission loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple channels into fewer metal cores using PAM modulation, reducing the total number of interfaces and connection points. This merging reduces the cumulative transmission loss that would occur across numerous separate channels, while maintaining high data transmission capacity through efficient multiplexing
Data Source
AI summary
An intelligent cable is disclosed. The cable provides a connector and a metal core. The connector is pluggably coupled with an external apparatus and enclosing a circuit unit electrically connected to an external apparatus. The metal core is electrically connected to the circuit unit in the connector. The circuit unit includes a transmitter and a receiver. The transmitter receives input signals from the external apparatus and outputs a transmitted signal to the metal core. The receiver receives the transmitted signal from the metal core and provides output signals to the external apparatus. A feature of the cable is that the transmitter modulates the input signals and the receiver de-modulates the transmitted signal both by the PAM configuration.